Food Stamp Participation Soars

According to the latest figures from the USDA, the number of households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — formerly called Food Stamps — grew by an average of nearly 20% across the US between March 2008 and March 2009. The following table, available at the USDA’s website (http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/30SNAPcurrHH.htm), shows the state-by-state percentage jump in food stamp households during this period.